Hunger-free Delhi campaign will curb malnutrition: Shastri

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Delhi Social Welfare Minister Yoganand Shastri today said the intensification of Hunger-Free Delhi Campaign would go a long way in curbing malnutrition in the city.

Inaugurating a new centre under "Aap Ki Rasoi," a new initiative under the Bhagidari Programme to ensure at least one-time full meal to homeless, poor, destitute persons, Dr Shahstri said the state-government would continue to facilitate NGOs/Business Houses in distribution of cooked food at specified Centres.

The second Centre of "Aap Ki Rasoi", a joint venture of the state-government and The Hindustan Times, is aimed at offering a helping hand in eliminating hunger from the Capital-city by providing one-time full free meal to large number of poor, homeless, destitute persons and street children.

The Minister said that the government, under its new initiative, would give permission to utilise night shelters for distribution of cooked food whereas the donors would bring hygienically cooked material for distribution to the poor.

Hunger-free Delhi Campaign is aimed at hapless destitute population which often goes to sleep empty stomach on the city street. One such Centre at Nizamudding Basti was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on April 16 where the Akshardham Mandir Trust has been distributing cooked food.

The Corporate, Business Houses, well-to-do individuals and organizations/NGOs have been exhorted to adopt one of the sites for providing meal to the destitute. Around 25 spots have been identified near temporary night shelters for this purpose.